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Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow Part 1 – Story, Art and Lettering by Stan Sakai and Color Work by Hi-Fi Colour Design.
The Story:
Following “The Green Dragon” story arc, Usagi Yojimbo and his new found cousin Yukichi make their way through the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan. The pair take refuge from the cold in the hut of a kind hermit woman. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar Keiko are hot on their trail, and they have just stumbled upon a group of bandits that they plan to use against Usagi.
The Writing:
This story was a lot of fun to pick up and read. I only have a passing knowledge of the character of Usagi Yojimbo and this book dropped me right into the story without making feel like I was lost or confused. The characters are written in a way that a new reader can follow motivations and characteristics of each with ease. Also, the story was just plain fun! The dialogue between the protagonists as they are dealing with a group of bandits had me smiling throughout and the villainous Jei was creepy and entertaining! On top of all of that was a cliff hanger ending that made me audibly groan when I realized the book was over.
The Art:
The artwork in this issue was a treat as well! There is something about the style here that makes me feel like I’m a kid again, sitting down and watching Saturday Morning Cartoons. Or that I’m reading a book that I just picked up from the book fair at school. There is a real nostalgic quality to this art style that I will always appriciate. That is not to say that the art is, in any way, childish or unpolished. This is artwork that takes skill to master, a great mixture of all ages fun with some gritty, but not gory, action. Well done!
The Verdict: 9.5/10
This is one of my favorite books of 2023. If you are a fan of Usagi Yojimbo, samurai, action, or Saturday Morning Cartoons, do yourself a favor and read this one! I cannot wait to see where this story goes next and I can say that I will be picking up every Usagi Yojimbo title going forward. This issue created a fan!
